Test bed for in-situ studies

Abstract

An impact test system for collecting hail storm data comprises a vehicle, a video recorder, a container, a plurality of dynamic force sensors, an atmospheric instrument system, a mounting fixture, and a data processing system. The plurality of dynamic force sensors is capable of detecting force generated by an impact of an object. The plurality of markers is capable of being used to determine an orientation of an incoming object. The mounting fixture is capable of holding a test specimen. The data processing system is capable of collecting data from the plurality of dynamic force sensors, the atmospheric instrument system, and the video recorder.

Description

BACKGROUND INFORMATION[0001]1. Field[0002]The present disclosure relates generally to impact testing and in particular to a method and apparatus for in-situ measurement of impacts caused by hail stones.[0003]2. Background[0004]Hail is a form of precipitation and may include balls or irregular lumps of ice. Hail is also referred to as hail stones. Hail stones may form in clouds when super-cooled water droplets freeze on contact with condensation nuclei, such as dust. Up drafts in the storm may blow or push hail stones to the upper part of the cloud. The hail stones may then fall down when the up draft dissipates. This cycle may occur a number of times with the hail stone, gaining a layer of ice each time the hail stone ascends.[0005]Hail stones may cause damage to a number of different man made objects such as houses, office buildings, cars, trucks, aircraft, and other man made objects. With respect to aircraft, the type of materials, thickness of materials, and other parameters with...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes an impact test system for collecting hail storm data using a vehicle, video recorder, container, dynamic force sensors, atmospheric instrument system, mounting fixture, and data processing system. The system can detect the force generated by an impact of an object using the dynamic force sensors and determine the orientation of the object using the markers. The system can also collect data from the dynamic force sensors, atmospheric instrument system, and video recorder. The technical effects of the patent include improved accuracy in detecting and measuring the force and orientation of hail stones during a hail storm, which can help in better understanding and predicting the damage caused by hail on various structures.

Problems solved by technology

Up drafts in the storm may blow or push hail stones to the upper part of the cloud.

Hail stones may cause damage to a number of different man made objects such as houses, office buildings, cars, trucks, aircraft, and other man made objects.

These currently used methods are useful, but are only rough simulations of hail stone impacts.

As a result, different designs for aircraft parts may over compensate for the effects of hail stone impacts.

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